In the age of online shopping, maintaining a brick and mortar store can be extremely challenging, especially if you are just starting out and are already facing considerable competition. In most cases, it is not viable to lower your prices below online standards, because you have rent to pay, but what you can do is invest in an aspect that e-commerce sites don’t focus too much on: the shopping experience. Here are some tips and tricks that will make your customers come back every time.

You should have a gift wrapping service

Customers tend to appreciate shops that offer a gift wrapping service and are even willing to pay for one, especially around the holidays. For example, a few months before Christmas stock up on festive wrapping paper, gift bags and ribbons from http://colour-ribbons.co.uk/christmas.html and learn some unique wrapping tips. Not only will this showcase your products, but also show customers that you are meticulous and ready to go the extra mile for their satisfaction. You should not normally charge for gift bags, but you can charge for gift wrapping if you can do it on a professional level.

Go the extra mile to provide customer support

Online stores may have FAQ sections, but nothing compares to the guidance of an actual person. Hire experienced shopkeepers to act as brand ambassadors and provide bespoke assistance to customers who enter your shop, but do not know what to buy. This way, you reduce the instances of people leaving without purchasing anything and make a good impression on customers. Make sure you hire only the most courteous, sociable and pleasant individuals, otherwise your image could be affected.

Decorate your venue

Everyone loves shopping in a warm, inviting, beautifully decorated shop. Owners tend to put up a small Christmas tree around Christmas and stick little hearts on the windows for Valentine’s Day, but if you really want to make an impression you should make your shop look its best all year around. A well decorated shop attracts customers and makes them spend more time inside, even when they didn’t plan on buying anything. You don’t have to spend a lot on decorations. A few well placed accents can do wonders and help you small boutique stand out. Make sure you choose items that match your type of shop and be careful not to use too many things at once, because you don’t want to overwhelm customers or draw the attention from your products.